The Best Actresses In Film History
The best actresses ever are ranked here in this list of the best actresses in film history. These are the greatest actresses ever to appear on the silver screen - female only (for the co-ed list, check out the greatest film actors and actresses). These women were part of some of the greatest movies of all time (or were perhaps the reason they were the best movies ever), with countless Academy Awards between them. Women like Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman are some of the most famous actresses of all time.
What are the qualities of the best actresses of all time? Is it the raw emotion they show, the parts they choose, their acting methods, or simply their effortless charm and charisma? There's no denying some of these amazing actresses belong on the list of the hottest celebrities of all time, but behind their 1000 watt smiles is the talent that defines generations of actresses.
Who is the best actor of all time? There are so many choices for the greatest movie actress ever that you don't have to limit yourself to voting for just one! Vote up your favorite famous movie actresses below, and then check back to see how your top actresses ranked!
- 1Summit, New Jersey, USA
- Credits (Film): Sophie's Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, Out of Africa
Won for Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Best Actress Oscar for Sophie's Choice (1983) and The Iron Lady (2012)
Won for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for Kramer vs. Kramer (1980) and Adaptation. (2003) and Best Actress Golden Globe for The French Lieutenant's Woman (1982), Sophie's Choice (1983), Angels in America (2004), The Devil Wears Prada (2007), Julie & Julia (2010), and The Iron Lady (2012)
Winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2017)
- 2Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America
- Credits (Film): Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, On Golden Pond
Won for Best Actress Oscar for Morning Glory (1934), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1968), The Lion in Winter (1969) and On Golden Pond (1982)
Nominated for Best Actress Golden Globe for Pat and Mike (1953), The Rainmaker (1957), Suddenly, Last Summer (1960), Long Day's Journey Into Night (1963), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1968), The Lion in Winter (1969), On Golden Pond (1982), and The Man Upstairs (1993)
- 3Ixelles, Belgium
- Credits (Film): Breakfast at Tiffany's, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, Charade, Wait Until Dark
Won for Best Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday (1954)
Won for Best Actress Golden Globe for Roman Holiday (1954) and Henrietta Award for World Film Favorite Female (1955)
Winner of the Cecil B DeMille Award (1990)
- 4Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
- Credits (Film): The Queen, Gosford Park, The Last Station
Won for Best Actress Oscar for The Queen (2007)
Won for Best Actress Golden Globe for The Queen (2007)
- 5Heworth, United Kingdom
- Credits (Film): Philomena, Notes on a Scandal, Shakespeare in Love
Won for Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love (1999)
Won for Best Actress Golden Globe for Mrs Brown (1998)
- 6Reading, United Kingdom
- Credits (Film): The Reader, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Titanic
Won for Best Actress Oscar for The Reader (2009)
Won for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for The Reader (2009) and Steve Jobs (2016) and Best Actress Golden Globe for Revolutionary Road (2009)
